Commandoes ignored local arsenal on 26/11

Low-intensity warfare techniques developed at HEMRL could have helped counter terrorists at Hotel Taj

Commandoes ignored local arsenal on 26/11

Low-intensity warfare techniques developed at HEMRL could have helped counter terrorists at Hotel Taj

Following the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, several low-intensity warfare techniques that were developedu00a0

at the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune are now being taken seriously by counter terrorism organisations across the country.

Speaking at the HEMRL's centenary celebrations on March 1, Shubhananda Rao, director of HEMRL, said, "Although we have tested the products successfully, the security agencies aren't showing much interest in them."

Rao added that the 84 mm incendiary ammunition, which was ignored despite being developed a year ago, would have proved helpful in flushing out terrorists holed up at Hotel Taj and Nariman House.

Even though Rao stated that it takes time for the security forces to accept a technology, he explained that the Border Security Force (BSF) in Jammu and Kashmir is successfully using HEMRL's smaller 28 mm ammunition.

Meanwhile, General Nobel Thamburaj, Vice Army Chief who was chief guest at the occasion, called for a need to modernise military development and production.

"I, as a soldier, wouldn't mind dying while fighting a battle using Indian arms," he said.

Pointing out that currently around 70 per cent of the arms and ammunitions are being imported, General Thamburaj, urged, "There is a need for armed forces and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to come together and reduce the use of imported military products."

Break walls

Explaining the use and effectiveness of 28 mm ammunition, S N Asthana associate director HEMRL who's also the in-charge of high temperature producing and suffocating compositions project, said, "The weapon can be used to break walls made of single bricks." He added that the larger variety of this ammunition could be used to suffocate terrorists holed up in public places.

"The bombs with red phosphorous content blow up only after they pass through the wall and enter a closed area," said Asthana.

He added that red phosphorous does not cause any harm to the human body but the gas that it emanates after the explosion suffocates the terrorists forcing them come out of where they are holed up.
"If the we would have used this technology during 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, we could have easily trapped many more of the 10 terrorists," claimed Asthana.

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